Saturday 28th January 2023
RFU Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex
St Albans RFC 19-28 Hendon RFC
Great performance by Hendon in this mid-table encounter.
The very heavy pitch looked to favour the home side with their large pack of forwards at the aptly named Boggeymead Stadium but Hendon had other plans that soon took shape with No 8 Chris Kiyingi coming into the backline after 8 minutes on a second phase backline move on the St Albans 22 to score a well worked try converted by Cian Hynes 0-7.
From the restart St Albans gained possession as Hendon ran the ball from defence and conceded a penalty; from the line out the heavier St Albans' forwards mauled from 5 metres to score in the corner an unconverted try to close the score to 5-7.
Hendon’s winger Max Treharne set up the next Hendon score with a scintillating sprint from defence to the St Alban's 22 with the ball being interchanged five times as Hendon closed on the try line before the final pass to TJ O’Sullivan to touch down with Hynes converting 5-14.
Midway through the half another backline move, this time by Rob Casey, put the home outfit on the backfoot with Nick Pope taking control to set up an attack to the St Alban's line for Kiyingi to grab his second try converted by Hynes to take the score to 5-21 at half time with Hendon now looking to be in complete control.
Into the 2nd period St. Albans changed tactics putting Hendon under pressure to defend, after a runaway try by the home side put them back in contention at 12-21.
Line outs were now a problem for Hendon, being out jumped they saw little first phase play, relying on gaining ball in mid field encounters. It was almost into the last quarter of the match before Hendon were back on the scoresheet after Dragos Ciocan kicked a long penalty from defence; from a successful line out scrum half Rich Roberts made an individual break with Casey making the line for Hendon’s 4th and bonus point try, converted by Hynes 12-28.
In the last 5 minutes the St Albans' forwards took control and pulled off a well worked try to close the score to 19-28.
From the restart Hendon were back to defending as the opposition kept the play in their forwards, attempting to gain bonus points in a last ditch effort.
But to their credit Hendon saw two try line attempts held up as the final whistle came giving Hendon five League points to move clear of St Albans and stay in fifth position in the League.
